San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-30

Complaints are made from various
sections Of band OF baking powder
tramps whose tricks upon unsuspecting
housekeepers seem to partske very
much of the nature Of confidence opera
tions. The band 10 composed OF women,
although employed and directed by an
agent Of the other sex, and their methods
of procedure, as explained by several !
ladies', who have been yictimized, Ia as
follows: Obtaining access TO the kitchen,
they Introduce the subject OF baking
powders, inquiring the kind used In the
family. Being shown the can, perhaps
a fresh, full one, they volunteer to test
IL to ascertain lite qualities. Their test
consists in placing The can on hot stove
or over a lamp or gas Jet, or In mixing
IN. baking powder with water both hot
and cold. II the baking powder 10 good
for any thing the heat Will, OF course, ex-
pei the gas, which being ammoniscsl or
carbonic, Is apparent to the sense
of smell The claim is then
made that this odor indicates
something detrimental, although, as a
matter of fact, a baking powder that
would give of no gas when subjected to
heat would be without leavening power
and valueless. They will also mix the
baking powder given them with water.
II pure it effervesces quickly. The bak-
ing powder they peddle being similarly
mixed foams up slowly like yeast, stand
ing. perhaps, over the top OF the glass.
This they claim as evidence OF superb
GRITTY. whereas it Is the exhibition OF
trick only. their baking powder having
been specially prepared to make this test
IL ~ nj
men. 1t 10 sure evidence OF adulteration.
or course the object OF these fraudulent
tricks 10 to destroy confidence In all
other kinds OF baking powder, and to
sell the particular brand for which the
women are travelling.
Were this the whole OF the operation,
housekeepers would not often be de-
ceived. Every intelligent person knows
that baking powder is not made to be
used In this way, but 10 cooking where
its action is entirely different from that
produced by dry heat or by mixture
with water alone The chief object OF
this jugglery is to destroy the baking
powder given for testing; or by heating
it TO drive off it's leaveninR gnses, and SO
weaken Ii that when used Ii will fail to
work. At the next baking there Ia
heavy food. Of course, and the tramp"
probably gets the credit Of having told
the hOusekeeper a valuable fact, instead
OF having spoiled her baking powder, as
was actually the case. The average
tramp" will, in this way, destroy from
fifty to seventy-hve pounds of baking
powder day.
A second method OF spelling for use
the baking powder In kitchen where
they are not permitted to experiment
with it, is by dexterously throwing in
the can a small quantity OF salt. soda or
powdered lime. Again, should there
chance to be no baking powOer In the
house. the operators will produce, OF the
kind used by the family, a sample that
has been purposely adulterated or doc
tored' to make such an exhibit as they
desire under the so-called test.
The only way to protect our food from
being contaminated by tramps OF this
kind is to turn all persons who wish or
attempt TO tamper with II unceremOni-
ously from the door, and to use those ar
ticles, only, which experience has proved
satisfactory, or the official tests have es-
tablished as pure and wholesome.